Adjusting means for hinges



Dec. 12, 1950' R. r. PHILIPS ADJUSTING MEANS FOR amass 2 Sheets-Sheet i' FiledAug. 1, 1949' T. PHILIPS RICHARD Snnentor A Dec. 12, 1950 T. PHILIPS 2,533,502 ADJUSTING MEANS FOR HINGES Filed Aug. 1, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FlG 6 I I -l 26 I I I-T-r' I 40 I l I FIG. 8 I II I II 2 I I RICHARD T. PHl LIP S I I I I g M aftormlegs Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTING MEANS FOR muons Richard T. Philips, Seattle, Wash.

Application August 1, 1949, Serial No. 107,889

My present invention relates to hinges, such as normally are employed for the hanging of doors, and is most especially adaptable for use with butt hinges. The invention consists of providing in the two leaves of a butt hinge, the usual cylindrical bores of the same size normally in each of the leaves, and employs a pin having spaced bearing portions thereon, which serves as the pivot for one of the hinge members, and alternately disposed therewith, crank or eccentric portions, which provide an adjustment so that the exact hanging of the door can be adjusted or corrected, as desired.

It is well known that a wide variety of arrangements have been made, all purporting" to achieve the adjustment of hung doors. Those devices, however, which have been studied, are generally characterized by expensive constructions, which have small bearing portions, or small lock devices, which, after a reasonable period of use, are usually worn or damagedto the point where they are of questionable worth. The majority of devices observed, have been expensive to manufacture, and because of the intricate demay make his own adjustments at a minimum of cost.

The principal object of my present invention, therefore, is to provide a simply constructed and easily installed adjusting means for hinges, of the butt hinge type preferably, which will make it a. simple matter for persons unskilled in such crafts to make adequate adjustments on their hung doors. i

A further object of my invention is to provide an adjusting means which can be applied to hinges already installed, and in use, and which will correct the defect of hanging or settling, so that the door can be restored to a properly hung condition.

YA further object of my invention is to provide anadjustable means in the form of a hinge pin,

,which may be employed as a replacement unit for hinge pins already installed.

' i A further object of my invention is to provide a hinge pin for butt hinges, having adjusting 2 Claims. (01. 16-131) means embodied therein, which because of its uniqueconstruction, permits ready insertion'or removal of the pin by persons unskilled in such work.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from the description and disclosure in the drawings, or may be comprehended or are inherent in the device.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front face view of a butt hinge embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view taken in the same sense as Figure l, but showing only the removable hinge pm. t

Figure 3 is an exploded, bracketed perspective view, partly in dashed lines, illustrating the manner in which the eccentric bushings are formed upon the hinge pin.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

'Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along th lines 5--5 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference numerals indicate like parts, the numerals l0 and I2 designate the two hinge leaves making up a complete butt hinge. For purposes of simplifying the description, hinge leaf Ill will be considered the fixed leaf member,

in that it will be fixedly secured as to the'frame of a doorway. Hinge leaf l2, on the other hand, will be considered the movable hinge leaf, and will be secured to the door'ancl move with the same. Normally, the hinge leaves Ill and I2 are secured in operating relationship by a through pin, which forms the hinge pin as 14. The hinge pin passes through the alternately disposed knuckles of the two hing leaves. In the'showing of Figure 1, formed as part of the movable hinge l2 are the spaced knuckles l6 and I3, and on the fixed hinge ID are the spaced knuckles 20, 22, and 24. These knuckles may be formed in several different ways. In the cheaper hinges it is common to form them by stamping operations, and in the de luxe or custom type of hinges the hinge leaves l0 and I2 are normally cast of nonferrous metals, with the knuckle portions cast as part thereof, and solid. This requires the drilling of the knuckles longitudinally, and prefer ably reaming the same to accurate size. Of recent years a third method of forming these has come into quite general use, in that the material is extruded and then the various knuckles are formed as by milling out the spaces for the accommodation of the knuckles of the companion hinge leaf members. There are still other methods of making hinges, such as by die casting and other techniques. I have found, however, that my adjusting meanscan be 'a dapted t6 --a1l=- the .various forms of hinge construction.

Referring to Figure 2, I have illustrated my typical form of hinge pin I4. This is provided with three aligned bearing portions-as; 28;.a-nd 30. Thesebearing members are normally of full diameter and are aligned for th'e rpurpose uof having them easily insertableinabore in the hinge leaf members, which, although interrupted,

is in eifect, a cylindrical bore, as it passes throughthe various knuckle portions. Disposed alternately withthe bearing portionanzfi, '28 and -.30,

are iv portions of reduced diameter, as 32- and 34; These are-"preferablyformed, cylindrically and are so disposed as to form'cranks or eccentrics,-

the longitudinal axes of which aresimilarly offsetfromthe longitudinal axesof the bearing por tions, as 2 6; 28; and 39. There is onc -essential requirement in the structure that-the crank -portions-musthave no portions w-hich -extend out beyond the cylindrical outline ofthebearing -members 26 28 and-3fl Otherwise it would be 'be=-the employment of a nut-"like head that could be easily-engaged by a=wrench.-

Disposed-uponcranks-3-2 -and are-locking members,- which --a-re made generally after the form-of-abushing, :having their-bores eccentrically disposed withthe axis-of the bushing when they are shaped to their final form. Que-manner. of

forming the: lockmember-s,- ol bushing-s; i m -trated inFigure 3-, in whichthe bushing. proper,

lil is shown witha U-shaped opening throughout thelengththereof. ThisopeningissuflicienttQ -permit seat-ingthe locking-member upon the reduced'diameter crank portion-as 32. This bushingshould-however, engage crankiti' quite snugly; For this-reason it'isbelieved: most desirable that the bushing members Y be made-by a method that will insure accurate dimensions. Such methods are available to those-making 'extrusions d-ie eastingsand' of course-milling-eperations. As a locking member ultimately needs to provide a very-markeddegree of frictional engagement with crank 32;. or 34; it would indicate thaai i were ofthe same material, that; maximum friction would result.- However, thalockingqnemhens or bushings have a dual; function one of securing themselves to the cranks 3-2 and--3d in-a manner where they can only be moved by considerable friction, and a second purpose-oLha-ving the outerlips, as 62 and E14,. somewhatexpansible so that it will also seat ir-ictiona ll y in the knuclcie of the hinge leaf. Experience "indicates that this bushing thenshould be of material having considerable resiliency so that no-amount of- Sustained compression will every fully overcome the normal spring-back effect of the material of the bushings.

In forming the bushing upon crank 32, after the showing of Figure 3, for instance, the locking member 40 is placed upon crank portion 32, and then engaged either by special forming tongs, as is illustrated by dashed lines in Figure 3 at 46, or it may be accomplished in a die seated in a punch press where preferably a" series. of blows would be-struck', so as to produce a successive swedging or forming action upon the metal. As the pressure is applied to bend the tips 42 and 44 around-crank: 32, the bushing 40 will approach bled: and formed. on: their respective 4 cranks. 32

and x35'; :as illustrated, .theyshould Joe turnedso as to.- ge nerallyform a.- continuation of ac. cylin drica-Lformbf bearings-26 28 and 3%.. In this position it :is possible .to assemble the :hinge,, but it would betvery difficult .to disassemblertheisame,

- and to overcomethis conditionl.prefer: tocham fer. either. the cores. of the-variousknuckleabr more 'simply. t0.- bevel the ends. of. .thelock meme hers it; When this...is.. effected thenhthec fact that'thebushing.members arecnot fully} formed.

to. their. cylindrical? shape would mean .that the, hinge pin can be pressed..'home. intoc; position thereby. completing, the. compression of. thevbushingsand causingv them to. conform to'..the. cylinr drical form.. As. a further.. aidl in, the.- assembly. and disassembly. of. my hinge, ,I prefer; .thattbush ings'Afllb'e soarrangedon pin: l fl thatonly oneend: ofone. of-.-the:hushings needbe forcedata time; In thewcase astillustrated with.- only, .two..- 'such bushings. adifference in lengthinone. or the othen will achievethis'. Incaseofalarger num-e ber: of bushings,. thev samehgeneml. efictlwillrbemaintained. and this may be: likened. to. aireight train in making its-.start in which. the; SlflCksiS- I-taken upv in-the-tr-ain, andtthen, successively-eachcanisistarted.

"Method preparation-- To simplify. the description. of. thecperationlit can be assumed. thatthe leaf. portions.- .1 flvandl" 12. are in place, and pin. 43s,. whichmight-be. either. a-component of. theor-iginaL hinge on replace.- ment member, is to. be. inserted; The first. re.- quirement is that-the. various bushings 1 '46 belacr curately positioned rotati-vely upon cranks, as-32f and34-, so that-a cylindrical: form,,.g,enerally-,;is provided. Itis. thentnecessary to determine. how: thedoor shouldbemoved in order toahang, propenly.- Doors-1 most commonly either.becoinehingebound. on their. margins,v on through sagging, have -a=tipped.appearanec.. Thenthere aret'imeswhen the margin of the door where it meetstthe frame may develop. tooimuchnclearance or, onltheother hand, may notlhave. snfiicient' clearance; conditiommrwt.firstfbe determined; then pm, with bushings lllhassembledi to. form..a cylinderl islforced through. the knuckles of the hinge lea-L Force is probably the most descriptive statement. of thewdesired, condition,,..in. that it is necessary to somewhatv compress ibushings." EB durin this operation, "and. if they are not tightenoug h /to.

require considerable,pressure,;.they could; notfbe depended upon to stay injpos'ition. "Now with the: p'in' in place, andthe bushings 41!,whichin In order to maintain the condition as outlined above it is necessary to provide thatbushings 4i] maintain their, original position in the hinge leaves. This is normally achieved by having accurate bores in the knuckles as 16 and I8, and

to have the material of bushing 40 of a character that will insure a spring-back in the material from the normal cylindrical form after its forming. The anchoring of the bushing can be further affected if the bushings are of the same texture and type of material as the hinge leaf in which it seats. This is in keeping with the accepted principles of friction between metal surfaces.

During the period the pin I4 is being turned to properly position the door, the friction on the outer surface of bushing 40 must be greater than the friction on the inner surface engaging crank 32, so that the pin can be turned to the optimum position without disturbing the adjustment or position of bushing 40. After the pin has been turned to the position where the adjustment of the door is achieved, it is then necessary to insure that the friction between the bore of bushing 40 and crank 32, in the aggregate of the various bushings and cranks is greater than the friction of the bearing portions 26, 28 and 30 in their associated hinge leaf. The purpose of this arrangement is to insure that the working bearings for the hinge will be the members 26, 28 and 30, which are of maximum size permitted under this construction in relation to the reduced crank portion as 32 and 34. Consequently they are most able to take the wear incidental to serving as a pivot. While the requirement of the frictional components of the different elements as pointed out, may appear somewhat complex from the description, actually, it is easily achieved by the proper selection of dimensions and materials, as has already been pointed out.

If it is desired to make another adjustment at a later date, it is only necessary to revolve pin I 4 to the new adjusted position. On the other hand, if it is deemed desirable to withdraw pin l4 entirely, from the hinge, it follows that it will be necessary to swing the pin back to the position, with reference to bushings 40, that it had at the time of insertion; otherwise we would no longer have a cylindrical pin to be withdrawn, and its removal could not be effected.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the above description and the disclosure in the drawings that the invention comprehends a novel construction of adjusting means for hinges.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. An adjusting means for hinges, consisting of: a fixed hinge leaf adapted for mounting on a fixed member; a movable hinge leaf adapted for mounting on a movable member; pintle receiving knuckles on each of said leaves, alternately disposed; pintle receiving bores, of uniform size axially aligned in each of said leaves; a pintle adapted to pass through said bores, having bearing portions axially aligned to form bearings in the knuckles of one of said leaves; alternately disposed crank portions formed on said pintle, positioned in the knuckle bores of the companion hinge leaf; said crank portions being of reduced diameter and being disposed within the general cylindrical form of said bearing portions; eccentric bushings mounted on said crank portions of said pintle; said bushings being longitudinally split open at their thinnest portion and requiring externally applied pressure to make them conform to the cylindrical form of their mating hinge knuckle bore; said bushings being beveled on one end to assist entering the same in their bores, and means for adjusting the rotary position of said pintle.

2. An adjusting means for hinges, consisting of: a fixed hinge leaf adapted for mounting on a fixed member; a movable hinge leaf adapted for mounting on a movable member; pintle receiving knuckles on each of said leaves, alternately disposed; pintle receiving bores, of uniform size axially aligned in each of said leaves; a pintle adapted to pass through said bores, having bearing portions axially aligned to form bearings in the knuckles of one of said leaves; alternately disposed crank portions formed on said pintle mating with the knuckle bores of the companion hinge leaf; said crankportions being of reduced diameter and being disposed within the general cylindrical form of said pintle; eccentric bushings mounted on said crank portions of said pintle; said bushings being longitudinally split open at their thinnest portion and requiring externally applied pressure to make them conform to the cylindrical form of their mating hinge knuckle bore; said bushings being of unequal length, and means for adjusting the rotary position of said pintle.

RICHARD T. PHILIPS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Vice May 9, 1933 Number 

